Mukul, no longer the leader of opposition: Cong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 21, 2021

Congress leader and Mawlai legislator PT Sawkmie on Monday said the former chief minister Mukul Sangma is no longer the Leader of Opposition of the state.

“He (Mukul) is no longer the leader of opposition because as of now the Speaker has not recognized (the merger by the 12 MLAs with the All India Trinamool Congress),” Sawkmie told journalists.

The president of the Congress Shillong City further claimed that the party has no dearth of leaders that is why not all have joined the AITC.

“Don’t think Congress doesn’t have leaders…I am also a leader that’s why…I am not a follower, I didn’t go with them (to join the AITC),” he stated.

On Mukul’s allegation that the Congress is desperate to be in power by extending support to the NPP-led government, Sawkmie said, “We are extending issue based support; others can say whatever they want.”

“All of us are leaders, we know how to move and this move is for the interest of the state,” he added.

He said although the Congress is left with only five MLAs, the party still has a strong base in almost all the constituencies.

The MLA further added that the exodus in Garo Hills only shows that the people there are following the leader. “But here people are wise enough, they are more mature in how to follow a leader,” he said.

Asked about their role as opposition in view of the breakaway of 12 MLAs, Sawkmie however said, “They (12 MLAs of AITC) have their own ideology. If the issues are for the interest of the people we will project together – from their side they will project under the leadership of Dr Mukul Sangma and from our side we will project under the leadership of Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh.”